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"The Inca Trail is not for me"
Visiting Peru
Annette2005-08-29 23:19:47
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with the entire Empire.
We know of approximately 14 000 miles of charted roads."
Legend has it that the Inca king Manco Capac, "the Son of the Sun", founded Cusco around the twelfth century. Cusco became "the Earth's Navel" and for hundreds of years, was the center of the Western hemisphere's most powerful empire. Nowadays, it is a small and quiet town in spite of being a tourist center and base for excursions to the ruins of Machu Picchu. Cobbled streets run throughout the city, lined by massive Inca-built walls. These walls are examples of the craftsmanship of Inca stonemasons. Hardly a sheet of paper can be inserted between the rows of stones. The precision with which the stones were hewn is astonishing given the simplicity of Inca tools. Seamlessly constructed, these walls formed foundations for many of the homes built under the conquistadors.
It is an interesting experience to spend a few days in one of these colonial homes. Several throughout the city have been converted into hotels, among them the Royal Inca I and Royal Inca II in the heart of the old town. In typical Spanish style, the multi-storied homes were configured around an inner courtyard. Balconies off the upper floors overlook this courtyard. Each room has a unique decor and a special medieval ambience. Quite obviously, these were "villas" of the Nouveaux Riches back in the first century after conquest. Oil portraits of the original owners still grace the stucco-covered walls, and archways built of sandstone are reminiscent of European castles and monasteries. The chambers have retained much of their original character as boudoirs and living rooms. Wide stone staircases have been worn down over the centuries, smooth and shiny from heavy use.
"The Inca used multi-colored knotted cords to keep records.
A written language was not known. By means of these cords,
they kept track of everything
...
See photographs from:
Peru Gallery
